Oh, I love the whole fantasy dinner party invitation. I think my party list tends to change depending on what I'm writing. At the moment I would definitely invite Bram Stoker, he's playing a massive part in my life at the moment. Then it would need to be Agatha Christie and probably Peter James, as I have a new found admiration for his writing.
Self-doubt. I've always had that niggling voice in the back on my mind, telling me I'm not good enough and to stay in the shadows for fear of being noticed. I would shove self-doubt out on its ear.
When I began to write it was a little lighter, a little more romantic. Although my writing feet have always been firmly planted in history, my writing is now far darker and Gothic, which suits my personality far more.
My emotions. I see my books as character lead, and in turn, it's their emotions that lead the reader through the story. All the emotions in my books are real in one way or another. Even if a particular situation is unfamiliar, the feelings are genuine.
